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  • Post-mortem evidence of idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy and idiopathic interstitial myocardial fibrosis: is exercise the cause?

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Findings that shed new light on the possible pathogenesis of a disease or an adverse effect
Post-mortem evidence of idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy and idiopathic interstitial myocardial fibrosis: is exercise the cause?
  1. Gregory Whyte1,2,
  2. Mary Sheppard3,
  3. Keith George4,
  4. Robert Shave5,
  5. Sanjay Prasad6,
  6. Rory O’Hanlon6,
  7. Sanjay Sharma6
  1. 1
    Liverpool John Moores University, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Henry Cotton Campus, Truman Street, Liverpool, L3 2ET, UK
  2. 2
    CRY Centre for Sports Cardiology, Olympic Medical Institute, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, UK
  3. 3
    The Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK
  4. 4
    Liverpool John Moores UNiversity, Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Henry Cotton Campus, Liverpool, L3 2ET, UK
  5. 5
    Brunel University, Uxbridge, London, UB1, UK
  6. 6
    Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS, UK
  1. gregwhyte27{at}yahoo.co.uk

Summary

We report the case of an experienced, highly trained marathon runner who died suddenly while running. On post-mortem examination, left ventricle hypertrophy and idiopathic interstitial myocardial fibrosis was found. We believe that life-long, repetitive bouts of arduous physical activity resulted in fibrous replacement of the myocardium, causing a pathological substrate for the propagation of fatal arrhythmias.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.08.2008.0758

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests: None.